Bible ReadingLuke 10:38-42 “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'”
[41:26] [41:39] [41:51] [42:44] [43:37]John 11:32-35 “Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.' When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, 'Where have you laid him?' They said to him, 'Lord, come and see.' Jesus wept.”
[52:27] [52:35] [53:08] [53:14]John 12:1-8 “Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?' He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, 'Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.'”
[57:53] [58:00] [58:47] [59:41] [01:01:32]Mark 14:3-9 “And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, 'Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.' And they scolded her. But Jesus said, 'Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.'”
[01:01:03] [01:01:15] [01:01:25] [01:01:38] [01:07:01] [01:08:15] [01:08:21]Observation questions- Across the three scenes in Luke 10, John 11, and John 12, what repeated physical posture shows up in Mary’s life, even though her circumstances are very different? [36:37]
- In Luke 10, what is Martha doing, and what words does Jesus use to describe her inner condition? How is that different from what Mary is doing? [43:37]
- In John 11, what does Mary say to Jesus when she reaches him, and how does Jesus respond in that moment? [52:35]
- In John 12 and Mark 14, how do the people in the room describe Mary’s act, and how does Jesus describe the very same act? [01:01:38]
Interpretation questions- Jesus says Mary chose “the good portion.” What does that suggest about the difference between being busy around Jesus and actually being attentive to Jesus? [44:52]
- Mary brings her grief honestly to Jesus: “Lord, if you had been here…” What does that reveal about the kind of honesty devotion allows in suffering? [56:08]
- If the algorithm feeds people what they already want and already think, why is that such a serious discipleship issue, not just a time-management issue? [47:44]
- Jesus says Mary’s costly act prepared his body beforehand for burial. How does that connect her worship to the cross and help explain why Jesus promised she would be remembered wherever the gospel is preached? [01:08:21]
Application questions- Jesus will not be worn like an accessory; he belongs at the center. In this season of life, where is the temptation to add Jesus onto an already set agenda instead of letting him shape the agenda itself? [40:41]
- Devotion begins with attention. What are the main things pulling life in different directions right now, and what would it look like to give Jesus unhurried attention this week? [51:17]
- The voice of culture and self can become louder than the voice of Jesus. What has been shaping the heart and mind most lately—Scripture, prayer, news, social media, entertainment, friends, ambition, fear? Where does that need to change? [50:56]
- Sorrow can either distance a person from God or push that person closer to God. When pain, disappointment, or unanswered questions show up, what is the usual instinct: to withdraw, to stay quiet, to get angry, or to come honestly to Jesus? [54:16]
- Jesus weeps with the grieving before he explains anything. Is there any grief, frustration, or confusion that needs to be brought honestly to Jesus instead of edited, cleaned up, or hidden? [56:38]
- Extravagant worship often looks unreasonable to people measuring everything by efficiency. What would costly devotion look like in a real, concrete way right now—with time, money, comfort, reputation, or obedience? [01:02:15]
- Jesus said Mary “did what she could.” Without comparing to anyone else, what is one faithful, sacrificial step that can be offered to Jesus this week? [01:07:01]
